Chaplain cuts 'shortchanges non-Christian inmates'

(THE STAR) — There is growing pressure on the Harper government to rescind its “discriminatory” decision to scrap part-time prison chaplains which critics say directly affects non-Christian inmates.

Churches and prisons chaplains have written to Public Safety Minister Vic Toews urging him to rethink the decision, which critics say was made in haste as a result of public outcry when a part-time Wiccan chaplain was appointed in British Columbia to minister to the needs of prisoners in that province.

Seventeen of the 71 full-time prison chaplains have signed a letter to the federal government, asking that it reconsider the decision.